Eye-shield



W. H. WILMER.

EYE SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-26, 1917.

1336,009. Patented Apr. 6,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. H. WILMER.

EYE SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26, 1917.

1,336,009. Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WILLIAM H. WILMER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

EYE-SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed December 26. 1917.' Serial No. 208.816.

.dirt and gravel thrown by exploding projectiles, and the like, but may also be used by machinists and others to guard against flying chips and particles ofmetal or other material under treatment.

The device consists of a plate or sheet of relatively thin but strong and tough metal, such as steel, pressed, hammered, or otherwise fashioned into shape to fit the forehead,

cheek bones and noseof the wearer, and provided with narrow slits having projecting lips or flanges tending both to stiffen the plate along said slits, and better to guard against the entrance of flying particles or missiles ofany kind. The slits may and usually will be provided with transparent material as glass, celluloid, bakelite, or mica, and in the case of glass or other artificial substances, may be of a character to out out the ultra-violet and infra-red rays in greater or less degree, and thus to prevent injury to the eyes through intense light.

The device is shown in the accompanying drawings in its "simpler form, and also with certain modifications which mayor may not be adopted in any given case, as found expe- I dient. Inthese drawings:

Figure lis a front face view or elevation of the shield;

Fig. 2 Ya transverse section on the line 2-2 of ig. 1;

Fig. '3, a view looking down from above with the shield in its normalposition of use; i

Fig. 4, a perspective view of the same;

Fig. 5, a section on the line 5-5 of Fig.

' 1 showing facing attached;

Fig. 6, a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 Fig. 7, a similar section on the line 77 I of Fig. 1, said Fi s. 6 and 7, however, showing the shield ma e in two parts, articulated to permit better adjustment to the face of the wearer;

Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. 4 but showlng the shield in two sections hinged or jointed together;

Figs. 9 and 10, views showing variant forms of the joint or connection between the two sections;

Figs. 11 and 12, sectional views through the eye swells or enlargements, showing different modes of applying the transparent material; 7

Figs. 13 and 14, perspective views of va riant forms of attaching device for yieldingly holding the shield in position.

The shield comprises a main plate 1 fashioned to conform more or less closely to the forehead or frontal bone, and having a curved and outwardly inclined saddle ,or

bridge portion 2 to rest upon the nose of the wearer. Just above this saddle there is also, advisably, a bulge or swell 3. The purposes of this swell are, first, to do away with what would otherwise be an unduly flat surface liable to penetration, and to produce instead a rounded deflecting surface; second, to take the pressure off of what is commonly a very sensitive portion of the nose; and finally, to afford space tending to accommodate the bow-spring and holding members of eye-glasses, should the same be used in connection with the shield. On opposite sides of the bridge or saddle portion 2 are swells or enlargements 4, these being located directly in front of and in a very general sense concentric with the eye-ball of the wearer when the shield is in position for use. These swells should be of sufficient size to clear the eye lashes, and may even be large enough to permit the use of spectacles or eye-glasses. Each swell or enlargement 4 is provided with a sl1t 5, occupying an approximately horizontal position. These slits are preferably formed by making a out along the medial line of the intended opening, and a short transverse cut at'each end of the main cut, and bending outward the lips or edges 6 to form ribs or flanges, which serve the double purpose of stiffening or strengthening the eye swells and deflecting particles of dust, or small bits of metal or the like, striking the shield.

By employing quite narrow slits of considerable length the vision is materially sharpened, and a wide range of view is assured, the slits permitting sufficient light curing the transparent body in place may rays'to enterand reach the eye to afford shutting out many rays from surrounding objects which tend to reduce the sharpness or clearness of those objects to which the eyes are particularly directed. Further marked advantages in the employment ofnarrow slits instead-of large openings are that the danger of small missiles or particles ofmatter passing through the shield is greatl lessened, the shield is left stronger and sti er, and in the event that glass or other transparent medium be used to fill the slits, it maybe more readily fitted in place,

and the danger of breakage thereof and consequent injury to the eyes is lessened,dangers which are present with the goggles and similar eye shields heretofore used.

When such transparent material is used it may be applied in any convenient way, as for instance by bending the metal along the longitudinal edges of the slit -5 to form grooves or channels 7, either on the outside as shown in full lines or on the inside as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 11, or by employing a light clamping plate or frame 8 as shown in Fig. 12, to hold the transparent medium 9 between the shield proper and itself. Any other usual method of seof course be employed.

If made of sufiiciently thin and malleable or ductile metal, the shield may be sprung or bent sufficiently to fit it to the face of the person by whom it is to be used, but as it is contemplated to use in many instances a quite stiff and moderately heavy plate, I propose in some cases to make the shield in two parts, and joint or articulate them at a point near the mid-length of the shield. Since, however, the upper portion of the .shield which bears against the frontal bone, and the bridge or. saddle portion thereof, are in different planes or at an angle one to the other, itis evident that a continuous hinge barrel reaching from the'upper to the lower boundary ofthe shield cannot be used, or at least not without diflioulty. I therefore adopt one or another of the several equivalent constructions shown in Fi s. 6 to 10 inclusive. 'Of'these,

Figs. 6 and pertain to one and the same construction, the sections being taken on different lines,Fig. 6 through that portion which bears against the forehead, and

(Fig. 7 at a point below the sight slits 5. 1 InFig'. 6 it will be seen that the plate I "isdivided into two parts which overlap at or about the mid-length of the structure, the swellor bulge 3 being formed in both members, that of one'member overlap ing and fitting somewhat closely to that o the companion member. The same is true of th Saddle or bridge portion 2, as seen in Fig. 7, which, however, is made to constitute somewhat more than ahalf cylinder, so

that the inner circular portionshall fit closely within the outer or enveloping circular portion, and turn freely thereinyto a limited extent, without danger of drawing apart. centric barrels of the bridge'when made in this form,'one or more lips 10 may be formed at the lower edge of the outer barrel and turned back under the lower edge of the inner barrel, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7.

In Fig. 8 a pin and barrel hinge joint 11 is shown at one side of the nose bridge or saddle 2, the upper portion of the two sections of the shield being made to overlap in the same manner as indicated in Fig. 6. The relatively slight movement required about the hinge axis is practicable without any material disturbance of the proper re- To prevent separation of the con-- lation of the overlapping portions of the theline of separation being covered by a thin and highly resilient plate 12, which may be soldered, brazed, or spot welded near its ends to the respective sections of the shield, thus permitting adequate flexure while leaving the metal of each section of full strength and the joint closed.

Fig. 10 shows an analogous construction but with the connecting spring fastened in position by means of spurs or ears 13, passingthrough small openings in the shield section, and bent down on the inside.

The inner orrear face of the shield or the boundaries thereof, may be'. faced with leather, felt, rubber, cork, or other more or less yielding substance, as shown at 14 in Fig. 5, to form a cushion and insure a close and preferably air-tight contact with the face of the wearer.

'10 hold the shield in position foruse, maintaining at all times a close contact with the face of the wearer, yet avoiding harsh or severe pressure at any point, I provide the same with elastic temples'or retaining devices, preferably'in the form of a helical springifig with or without a shield or cover 16 of'rubber or'other suitable material. The

cover is deemed advantageous in that it gives clogged with mud or-dirt when the devices are used in trenches and like places. As the temples or holding bands are liable to be injured, it is desirable to make them readily detachable. With this object in View a hook 17 preferably in the form of a snap-hook, is Provided at one or both ends of the temple 'or holder, and the shield is provided at each end with an eye 18 to feceive the hook. If both ends of the temple or holder be provided with snap-hooks they may be passed to the back of the head and the hooks there joined, but I contemplate in some instances providing one end of each temple with a wire or hook 19 (Fig. 1), adapted to fit around or back of the ear,

' after the manner of the so-called riding temple used with spectacles.

Instead of using the helical form of spring for the holding device, I may employ one of the form shown in Fig. 14:, in which the bends or folds of the spring lie in common plane, thus producing a fiat spring 20 which will lie closely against the temple of the wearer. This and other variations may of course be used without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

The eyes 18 may be formed integral with the shield as in Fig. 8, or as separate eyes l8 riveted in-perforations formed in said plate as in Fig. l. c

To the end that the wearer of such a shield may without removing it from his eyes, readily look down to the ground at his feet, a small perforation 21 may be formed in the lower side of each eye swell or dome 4., as illustrated in Fig. 8. If the shield is to be used with or as part of a gas mask these perforations will be covered with some transparent material as in the case of the slits or sight openings 5; otherwise this will ordinarily be unnecessary.

When the user of the shield is wearing the now well known metal helmet, the shield will be attached thereto by a device similar to that shown in Fig. 13, one of the snap hooks upon each spring holder engaging an eye or opening, as the case may be, upon or formed in the helmet. Such arrangement allows the shield to be thrown up on the helmet or drawn down beneath the chin of the wearer.

It is to be noted that the shield is throughout formed with easy curves or without sharp. or decided angles, thus greatly aiding in the deflection of missiles coining from any direction. Such form also tends to brace and stiffen the shield quite effectively, and thus to enable it better to withstand impact without being broken or distorted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A metallic eye-shield comprising a plate fashioned to bear fiatwise against the forehead and cheeks of the wearer, and provided with a bridge to rest upon the nose and with bulging eye-covering portions at opposite sides of said bridge, said eye-covering portions being provided with narrow slits having transparent closures.

2. An eye-shield comprising a metal plate fashioned to rest fiatwise against the forehead and cheeks of the wearer entirely about the eyes, and bowed at its midlength to form a bridge for the nose, said plate being provided on opposite sides of said bridge with narrow slits extending in a substantially horizontal direction.

3. An eye-shield comprising a metallic plate fashioned to fit fiatwise against the forehead and cheeks of the wearer, having at its midlength an arching portion to bridge the nose, and on opposite Sides of said bridging portion, dome-like elevations integral with the plate, and provided with narrow substantially horizontal slits, the edges of which are turned sharply outward, substantially as set forth.

4. An eye-shield comprising a plate to rest against the forehead and cheeks of the wearer, said plate having a nose bridge to rest directly upon the nose; an Outward bulge or protuberance immediately above said bridge; and eye-covering domesat opposite sides of the bridge, provided with narrow slits or sight openings.

5. An eye-shield of the character described, formed of two metallic plates fashioned to rest fiatwise against the face of the wearer, meeting near the midlength of the structure and flexibly united one to the other, whereby the plates are enabled better to adapt'themselves to the face of the wearer, each of said plates fashioned to form a dome-like bulge or enlargement, and each of said domes being provided with a narrow slit extending horizontally or in the direction of the major axis of the dome.

6. An eye-shield comprising a two-part plate having a saddle or nose bridge and eye swells provided with slits, said shield sections being united by a hinge at one side of the saddle or nose bridge, and having the portions above said bridge arranged to overlap.

7. An eye-shield comprising two sections overlapping in their upper portion and each there provided with a swell or bulge; a saddle or nose bridge below said bulge; and a flexing connection between the two sections, with the line of flexure extending parallel with the nose bridge.

8. An eye shield comprising a plate adapted to conform to the face of the wearer, having at its mid-length a saddle or nose bridge and at either side thereof an eye swell provided with a narrow slit, and having in the lower part of each eyeswell a small perforation to permit the eyes to look downward through the shield.

9. In combination with an eye-shield of the character described, a holding device comprising a metallic spring provided at one end with a hook to engage an eye of the shield and at the opposite end with an ear-engaging loop.

10. In combination with an eye-shield of the character described, a holding device comprising an extensible metallic spring, and a non-metallic elastic covering therefor.

11. An eye-shield comprising a metallic plate fashioned to fit flatwise against the forehead .and cheeks of the wearer, said plate being provided at its midlength with an arching bridge for the nose and with dome-like swells or enlargements at oppoaaepoe.

"site sides of the bridge, each provided with a narrow slit or opening; and a yielding lining applied to the inner face of the plate at its boundaries and serving as a cushion and as a means of eflecting perfect contact with the face of the wearer.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM H. WILMER. 

